Alchemists Guild.

[GhengisFarbâ„¢]

Current Science Rate: 100%

Current Research Project: Warrior Code (7 turns)

What are we researching after Warrior Code?

Should we drop the Research Rate down a bit after Warrior Code?

[Aeson]

I would drop research down to 0% after WC, then wait to buy Alphabet from someone once we have a few contacts.

WC is something I'd even stop researching to save cash on. We'll get it for free later on in trades from one of the more backwards AI's. That will happen before we can get the shields for Javs (and Barracks) even. The commerce going into WC right now is basically being wasted. Cash you can give to the AI's freely through most of the Ancient Era... and be sure to get it all back eventually through trading. They are really dumb that way.

If we must research something, I would suggest Mysticism. At least gives us something we have a chance to trade later on. WC... all the AI should have it by now. No trading possible.

[GhengisFarbâ„¢]

I agree, typically I drop my research rate to absolute minimum and research the most expensive tech I can just in case I get it before I can trade for it. Then buy/trade with the AI for techs. They usually way outpace me in the early game.

[TORARADICAL]

I agree, typically I drop my research rate to absolute minimum and research the most expensive tech I can just in case I get it before I can trade for it. Then buy/trade with the AI for techs. They usually way outpace me in the early game.

With that playing style it is not hard to see why they do.

[Thrumble]

I think we should drop research to as low as possible also.

[Inverse Icarus]

Am I the only person who actually researches technologies? I've never been behind the AI, even on Emperor :???:

[Aeson]

The key is when to research, and when to build up a treasury buffer so you can research faster later. Researching techs the AI all will have already is wasting cash. Researching techs the AI doesn't have will give us a return in the tech we research, and in the techs/cash/workers we can trade for.

To get Alphabet in a trade, we need some more cash or another tech the AI won't have. The Wheel + cash should work once we get another contact or three. Egypt seems to be in contact with Japan or someone else with the Wheel, or close to finishing it themselves.

WC won't help us get the Alphabet in any case, and the cash we are spending on it could. Once we have the Alphabet, we can research something no one else has y et (Writing), instead of just duplicating effort. Having a big treasury at that time will help us max tech rate later, and grease the skids in trading.

[GhengisFarbâ„¢]

Originally posted by Uber KruX
Am I the only person who actually researches technologies? I've never been behind the AI, even on Emperor :???:

When you start getting above Emperor they just research like little rabbits. I typically try to trade for a tech I know other AI don't have and then trade to them for money/luxes to make up for my deal. Eventually, I hit a point where I can research a tech or two none of them have and can trade my way to equality and then work my way ahead of all of them.

Then I trade tech for every stinking peso the suckers make a turn and keep them in the poor house and unable to keep up with me.

[TORARADICAL]

Am I the only person who actually researches technologies? I've never been behind the AI, even on Emperor :???:

Nope, I won my first Sid game in early December. I've always kept researching on my own.

[Bismarck2990]

I experiment between Emperor and Deity and I research on my own, and the evil AI rarely gives me any of the profits of their work. I am usually neck to neck...
So, I would vote on at the least for a reduce of the Science ratio to 80% which I use in my Deity-Emperor games. I think that is reasonable isn't it?

That way we still get a slice of the cake while we are still making the icying.